High school kid online is telling me he got an internship at a bb through "cold-calling." I know it's impossible, but will banks even take HS kids with connections?

Met this kid online, he's trying to flex all of his accomplishments. Tells me he worked hard to get an internship at a bulge bracket. BS-o-meter goes off immediately, I call cap on this kid and he gets all defensive... and at this point I'm not even mad - it's obvious that daddy pulled a few strings to get him in. What I am wondering, though, is why do these banks take these kids in the first place? I'm a high school senior, and I can honestly offer nothing of value to a bank. What does the bank earn by taking this kid? What does the kid do? Have you ever seen an HS senior in a legitimate BB internship?

9 Comments
 

I'm not buying it and I'm at a top BB - the kid is just pulling your leg. Even the "early talent" programs start at the college freshman level. And even those aren't really "internships", more just meet & greets, simple stuff like that. I'm not even sure if we even pay them for those, I don't think money is involved. The first internships we have where money is involved would be the summer between college junior and senior year, that's it. 

 

Come to think of it, yes, I do suppose we also get some soph/juniors that are paid. I think you're right, I just forgot about them. But definitely not anything that pays for any lower than that. 

 
Funniest

First, you're going to call me a liar on discord now you come on here to lie even more. Unbelievable! I'm blacklisting you.

 
Most Helpful

I know a bunch of people who ‘interned’ at BBs’ (usually wealth management) offices during or after HS. 99.9% of them are there as favors to parents; maybe once in a blue moon some partner might get impressed by some scrappy non-connected kid (though I can’t think of any examples). A HS internship at Goldman will 100% of the time be interpreted by your future interviewers as connection-based.

Were I in your shoes, I’d spend HS as far away from finance as possible (save maybe for some WSJ reading and a brokerage account). You’ve got the rest of your life to work. 

 

Optio minima animi doloremque. Quidem qui enim delectus laudantium.

Omnis perspiciatis id quis commodi fugit harum. Esse voluptatem eos ea reiciendis in quam. Aut et molestiae unde itaque necessitatibus dignissimos quia. Eius accusamus iure dolores labore dolor.

Debitis aliquam nisi omnis cumque natus dolore autem. Inventore neque quo repudiandae sint cumque corporis quia illum. Laboriosam debitis et quia sapiente ea rerum sed. Dolorum totam voluptatem est sunt aperiam odit sunt.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”